Martin Stokes: Racist who drove into worshippers at mosque is jailed for five years

John Simpson

Thursday March 07 2019, 12.01am, The Times

Three people were hurt when Martin Stokes drove into crowds leaving the Al-majlis Al-Hussaini centre in Cricklewood, north London

MET POLICE/EPA

John Simpson

Thursday March 07 2019, 12.01am, The Times

A driver who hurled anti-Muslim abuse before crashing his car into worshippers leaving a mosque has been jailed for five years.

Martin Stokes, 25, had been drinking near the Al-Majlis Al-Hussaini centre in Cricklewood, northwest London, when stewards at the mosque asked him to move on. He responded by revving the engine and driving into the crowd.

Three people were hurt including one man in his fifties who was in hospital for more than three weeks with serious hip and leg injuries, Harrow crown court was told. Stokes fled the scene after the incident at 12:30am on September 19, last year.

Stokes, of Wembley, admitted dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and a religiously aggravated offence. In addition to his jail term he